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E. LAMPI.

AUTOMATIC GATE.

APPLICATION nuzo AUG.3I. 1911.

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E. LAMP].

AUTOMATIC GATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31. 1911.

1,320,243. Patented Oct. 28,1919.

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E. LAMPI.

AUTOMATIQ GATE. APPLICATION FILED vAUG.3I, I917 1,320,243. Patented Oct. 28,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- EMIL LAMPI, or ELY, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMATIC earn purpose to produce simple means, operated by a train approaching a crossing for actuating the gates at the cIOSSing to lower the same until after the train has passed the crossing, and thereafter, to again actuate the,

mechanism to raise the gates.

It is a further object of the invention to producea means operated by an element upon a traveling body, such as a train for actuating gates or signal devices which shall be of a comparatively simple construction,

requiring no adjustment when installed and which will perform its functions with ease and accuracy. i

Other objects and advantages will appear a as the nature of the invention is morefully understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan of a railway crossing provided with the improvement.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the train or other motor propelled vehicle appreaching the crossing to operate the gates thereat.

.Fig. 3lis a sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an approximately central longitudinal sectional view, approximately on the line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional View illustrat ing the arrangement of parts when the striker member on the car engages with the first contact member of the gate operating means.

' Fig. 6 is a similar view but illustrating" the striker member after engaging the first contact member being brought to engage with the second contact member.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the arrangement ofparts after the train has passed the 1 crossing and engages with'the first contact member to the opposite side of-the crossing.

Fig. 8is a s1m1lar vlew illustrating the arrangement of parts when the striker mem ber of the train is engaged with'the last contact member.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedflct. 28, 1919.

Application filed August 31, 1917. Serial No. 189,164.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a railway track is indicated by the numeral 10, 11 designating a traveling bodysuch as a locomotive, upon said track, and the nu meral12 designatesa crossing for the track. 7 all Or-at two of the diagonally 0pposite corners of the crossing 12 is arranged the crossing gates 13. Each of the gates is plvotally connected, as at 14, to a suitable upright 15, and each of the said gates, at the end thereof nearest its pivot '14 is weighted -'as at 16, whereby to assist the gates in being swung to their vertical or non-obstructing position. To the opposite edges of each of the gates 13, at a suitable distance outward of the pivots 1 1, are secured flexible elements 17 and 18 which travel over suitable guide pulleys l9, and which are also wound, in opposite directions, around a grooved wheel or drum 20.

Each ofthe flexible elements or cables 17 and 18- is provided with a tension device, and, preferably, the said members 17 and 18 comprise each a plurality of sections" which are connected by springs 21, the said springs forming the referred to tension devices; To the uprights '15 are secured horizontal brackets 22 and vertical brackets 23, the same providing rests for the gate members when the latter are swung to their horizontalor to their vertical position.

The drums '20 have their shafts 2 1 journaled in suitable bearings 25 and to each of the said shafts is keyed or otherwise secured a crank arrangement, preferably, as illustrated, in the nature of a wheel 26 having, upon its outer face, an eccentrically ar ranged outwardly extending knob 27. The elements above described, may be and preferably are inclosed in a suitable protective casing, the same, however, have suitable openings along the 'sidesthereof, which receive pipe or other protecting devices for the operating cables now to be described.

Secured to the knob of each of the crank members of the wheels 27 and extending in opposite directions therefrom, are cables 28 and 29. These cables are trained around suitable guide pulleys 30 whereby the same may be directed approximately to the center of the track 10, it being understood, however, that if desired, the cables 28 and 29 may be arranged in suitable protective housings embedded in the lower bed below the ties for the track and the ends of each of the saideab1es28 and 29 are trained over spective cables 28 and 29 are connected. By

reference to the drawings, it will be noted that the cable 28 is connected to the end of the lever 32 which is nearest the crossing 12,

while the end of the cable 29 is connected to the end of the lever 33 that is arranged away from the crossing. Each of the levers is supported by a suitable upright or bracket 34 inclosed in suitable housings and pivotally secured adjacent the opposite ends of each of the levers are vertically disposed arms 35 of contact members 36, 37, 38 and 39 respectively, the contact members 36 and 37 having their arms connected with the lever 32 andthe contact members 38 and 39 having their arms pivotally secured to the lever 33. The arms of the contacting members are arranged in suitable guide or bearing openings in the housings inclosing the levers 32 and 33, the contact members com- .cal springs of a sufficient strength to perform the functions required, the said springs having their lower ends secured in any desired manner to the bottom wall of the housings protecting the levers 32 and 33, while the opposite end convolution of each of the said springs is extended, providing the same preferably with a yoke which is disposed around or otherwise connected to the respective levers 32 and 33. By reference to the drawings, it will be noted that the end 42 of the spring 40 is arranged upon the'lever 32 adjacent the arm of the cOntact member 36, while the end member 43 of the spring 41 is arranged to engage with the lever 33 adjacent to the contact member 38, and the purpose of this arrangement will presently be apparent.

A traveling body, such as a locomotive of a train is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings and is designated by the character 11. To the under face of the pilot, or to the frame of the locomotive 11 at the front thereof, is rigidly secured a depending bracket 45 which has its lower end bifur-- above the rails of the track in proper position to be engagedby the striker member on the moving body. We will suppose the train to be approaching in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5. The striker roller 47 will first engage with the head of the contact member 36 depressing the same, swinging the lever 32 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and likewise, swinging the lever 33 to the position also illustrated in the said Fig. 5 of the drawings. This draws the cable 28 taut, the pull upon the same being suflicient to turn the wheel 26 one-fourth of a revolution and the momentum thus imparted to the said wheel may revolve the same beyond one-fourth of a revolution, the lever 33 being tilted at an opposite angle from the lever 32 permits of sufficient slackening of the cable 29 as not to interfere with the turning of the wheel 26. This movement of the wheel 26 turns the drum 20, drawing the cable 18 taut but permitting the cable 17 to unwind from the drum. The cable 18. drawing on the gate 13 swings the same, from a closing position, to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the spring 40 is either compressed or is not afiected but the spring 41 is expanded. The contact members 36 and 37 are placed a considerable distance apart, and during the interval that the .roller 47 passes between the said members 36 and 37, or from the member 36 toward the member 37, the expanded spring 41 will contract, and further revolving the wheel 26 turning the drum in the same clirection as when the member 36 was engaged by the member 47 still drawing on the cable 18 and permitting the unwinding or slackening of the cable 17, thus bringing the gate 13 a step forward in its closing position. The train passes on and engages with the head of the contact member 37 swinging the lever 32 at an opposite angle illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, permitting the spring 41 of the lever 33 to compress to swing the said lever to an opposite angle than that assumed when the striker member engages with the head of the contact member 36 and thecontraction of this spring 41 turns the wheel 26, returning the same to its initial position, this result being attained by the contraction of the spring 40. This complete turning of the wheel 26 further revolves the drum, causing the same to still draw the cable 18 and release the cable 17, bringing the gate to the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings, to its fully closed position. It will'thus be noted that the springs 40 and 41 work in conjunction with each other, when one is expanded, the other is contracted, and as the drum 20 is secured to the shaft 24 of the wheel 26, the flexible elements 16 and 17 will be wound in opposite-directions therearound, causing a tension upon the element 18 and the slack upon the element 17. The gate is now in its closed position and may rest upon an offset element or bracket 48 arranged upon an upright or post 49 which is disposed opposite the upright 15. The contact roller 17 has now passed off the member 37, and the members 3637 and 38-39 are permitted to assume the positions illustrated in Fig. 2 and 4 of the drawings. With the gate closed the train travels toward the contact members 38 and 39, and the roller 47 V will first engage with the contact member 38, swinging the lever 33 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. This movement of the lever draws the cable 28 taut, causing the same to revolve the wheel wound around the drum. The tightening of the cable 29 also tightens the cable 28, causing the same to tilt the lever 32 to the position illustrated in the said Fig. 7 and expanding the spring 40. The train 'now passes to bring its striker member into engagement with the contact 39, reversing the position of the levers 32 and 33, "as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, slackening the cable 29, but causing the cable 28 to be drawn taut, thus turning the wheel 28 a complete revolution and winding the cable 17 on drum and permitting the cable 18 to unwind from the drum restores the gate to its initial upright position. This is accomplished only after the striker member has passed over the contact member 39, the turning of the wheel 26 being completed by the contraction of the spring. 40.

Vhile I have illustrated the body 4A as traveling in the direction of the arrow A,

it will be apparent that the gate will be 0perated should the train approach the crossing in an opposite direction, and from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the simplicity and advantages of the construction, will, it is thought, be apparent without further detailed. description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination witha track and a piV- oted gate at the side of the track, of a revoluble drum below the gate, flexible elements reversely wound thereon and connected to the opposite edges of the gate, a crank connected with the drum, oppositely extending cables secured to the crank, spring ,infiuenced rocking levers connected one to each of said cables, spaced heads on the levers arranged in the path of contact with a body traveling on the track, whereby the outer head of one of the levers will be first contacted to swing the lever and draw on the cable connected therewith to turn the drum a determined distance to partly swing the gate and likewise to draw on the second cable to swing the second lever against the tension of its spring, and thereafter the said traveling body engaging the second head of the first mentioned lever swings the latter to a different angle to slacken the cable connected thereto and permit of the spring of the second lever returning said lever to normal position and in so doing draw on the cable thereof to further turn the drum and complete the swinging of the gate.

2. In combination with a track, and a gate pivoted at the side of the track, of a drum below the gate, reversely wound fieXible elements on said drum and connected to the gate, a tension device for each of said elements, a crank on the drum, oppositely disposed cables secured to the crank, guide rollers therefor, a rocking lever con nected. with the respective cables, a spring influencing each of the levers to one position, a pair of upstanding arms on each of the levers, a rounded head on each of the arms, and said heads being disposed in the path of contact with a body traveling on the track whereby, when the outer .head is contacted to swing the lever to one position to draw on the cable connected therewith and turn the drum to partly swing the gate, the said turning of the drum drawing on the second cable to swing the lever thereof against the tension of the spring connected with the said lever, the said body, when passing from the first head onto the second swinging the first mentioned lever to a second position, slackening the cable con nected therewith and permitting the spring of the second mentioned lever to return said lever to its initial position and in so doing draw upon the cable connected therewith to further turn the drum and swing the gate to the limit of the swinging thereof in one direction.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

- EMIL LAMPI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, walhington, D. 0. 

